Sledding

When I was in the 4th grade, we lived in a red and white split level house in Centerville, Utah. We had the best yard for sledding. Ever. The winter of 1987-88 brought some amazing snowstorms!

My Aunt Marylou gave me some photos from that winter. We lived in that house for only a few years, but it holds the last memories of my childhood family before my parents’ divorce. Every time I pass Parrish Lane on I-15, I think of the time I spent in that home. I have tried to describe to friends the sledding hills in the backyard, but now I have pictures!

I would love to buy a house like this house. A nice split level home with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a garage, big yard. I believe they bought it for 80K. Today, it would sell for at least 400K. We took a minute to see if we would qualify to buy a home a couple of months ago when we thought my dad might be coming to live with us. With both of our jobs, we qualified for a home for about 175K. Maybe. And then Antonio’s job ended. And now we’re just happy to have one job that comes with a nice two bedroom apartment.

It’s a funny line between gratitude and ambition. I always want to be working towards something, but I think the secret to a happy life is gratitude for the blessings we have currently.

So today, I will look around the room and enjoy the blessings of today. Dan is sitting across from me, looking at funny memes, eating a banana muffin I just made. Antonio is editing photos. Behind me, our bedroom door is open and I can see his studio lights up. The kitty is sneaking around the kitchen trying to find banana bread crumbs.

We don’t have a two car garage or a giant sledding hill, but we have so many other good things. And we’re not on the verge of a divorce… so that’s nice! (cue snare drum)